Kevahn Thorpe has an I.Q. of 127, was an honor student at Long Island City High School and even wanted to study law.
He has, also, repeatedly stolen high-end clothing from big department stores such as Barneys, only to end up in jail numerous times, his longest sentence being a year. His love of fashion isn’t a crime; as a fashion lover myself, it’s understandable to want the pretty clothes that designers churn out season after season. The real crime is that this kid isn’t putting his smarts to use. Where did he go wrong?
Thorpe received his first taste of thieving when at 13, he was sent to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility for stealing his teacher’s credit card. Three years later, he attempted shoplifting from the Macy’s in the Queens Center Mall. Although the first articles of clothing weren’t expensive, Thorpe would soon upgrade once he encountered Barney’s and Bergdorf Goodman. Repeated trips to Riker’s Island and other big time jails did not deter him. Once Thorpe is back on the streets, he steals again.
This is a serious issue because Thorpe is a serial shoplifter. He may be stealing clothes now, as a teenager, but what will he steal in the future? There have been moments when he’s stolen credit cards and electronics. He could upgrade to jewelry, money, cars, even identity theft, when he becomes an adult. It would be best to put an end to this hobby of his. But Thorpe can not be placed in a residential program because he has not been diagnosed with a drug or mental-health problem. Stealing is still a problem though.
His reason for stealing? To be the best-dressed. Thorpe only steals when he wants, needs, or is desperate for a new outfit. Now I know stealing is bad, but at least have a legitimate reason. Hypothetically, if I were to steal some food, my reason would be along the lines of ‘well I’m dirt poor and can barely afford basic amenities so I’m going to take this bunch of bananas to fight off my hunger pangs.’ Makes sense, right? Thorpe steals so that he would look fly, so that people would pay attention to him because of his fancy but overpriced clothing.
What does that say about society? One, that we as a people value what a person is wearing rather than who that person is; two, that people believe owning nice things automatically makes you a better person in some way; and three, that fashion is only about flaunting labels and not having your own sense of style (and anyone who follows fashion knows that is false). Now, in New York City, it’s easy to buy into the whole ‘outside appearance matters’ vibe. When you see pretty people strutting down the street in pretty clothes, there’s a small urge to want to look like them or be them. But anybody with a working brain knows that there is more to life than looking pretty. Our lives do not revolve around fashion.
What saddens me about Thorpe is that he has bought into society’s idea of attractive and flaunting labels. For someone who is book smart, he doesn’t have any life smarts. If you want something, you have to work for it. Nothing comes for free in life because there is always a price to pay.
Thorpe would rather choose jail time instead of forking over cash. He is going to have a tough time making his way in the world because of his criminal record. The ironic thing about Thorpe is that he is really into fashion; he critiques designers and even wants to be a Dior model. However, stealing from the luxury world which he so longs to enter will ruin his chances of ever living that kind of life.
In his last interview with New York magazine, Thorpe is asked about the temptations of stealing. ‘It doesn’t get tempting. It’s when I want to do it…’ Thorpe is fully aware of his situation and (almost) completely powerless.
Unless he puts in a conscious effort to stop, Thorpe will be forever stuck in this cycle of crime.
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